Few trainers have had the kind of national success that the barn of Mike Joiner has enjoyed over the past five years.Much of the credit for that success belongs to his son Cody, who has served as Mike's assistant trainer since the family set their sights on Los Alamitos several years ago.Since 2003, Cody has presided over the family's California stable, campaigning superstars for his father such as two-time AQHA Champion FDD Dynasty.

A native of Lubbock, Texas, Cody can recall walking the shedrow with his father as early as the age of three. "I ve been fortunate enough to work for several different talented horsemen over the years," Cody recalled. "Guys like Blane Wood and Randy Sanders taught me a lot, but of course I owe most of my training to my father Mike.I started out as the traveling guy.Whenever our horses shipped to tracks like Albuquerque Downs or Lone Star Park, I'd be the one to take them.We had a lot of success too.We won a lot of races doing that."

After beginning his education at New Mexico State University, Cody would go on to complete his collegiate career at the University of Phoenix, where he would later graduate from with a degree in Business Management. "I've actually had all sorts of offers to work in other industries," added Joiner. "For a while I was considering working for Scoop Vessels at Vessels Stallion Farm.I was also offered a number of other jobs in the business sector, but ultimately I chose to stay in horse racing because I love the game so much.To me nothing compares to this."

Cody Joiner first came to Los Alamitos in 2003 to run Kendall Jackson in the M.B.N.A. Challenge Championship.He would return a year later with standouts like the filly All About Ease and the stallion Brimmerton. "My first year here in California full-time was in 2005," Cody commented. "That year I only had two horses in my stable, Identity Theft and Fishers Tale.They both won their trial to the Ed Burke Million Futurity.Fishers Tale was actually my first winner here at Los Alamitos."

Those two horses would go on to have great success later in their careers.Fishers Tale returned to run second in the Ed Burke behind the supremely talented filly Higher Fire and would also capture the Jens L List California Breeders Stakes the following year at three.Additionally, Identity Theft was victorious in a pair of derbies as a sophomore and now stands at stud at Delta Equine Center in Vinton, Louisiana.

"As good as that year was, the best came in 2006 with FDD Dynasty," said Cody."That year he won the Ed Burke Million Futurity, ran third in the Golden State Million, and was second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity." FDD Dynasty also had a phenomenal year at three, capturing the Grade I Go Man Go Handicap, the Governor's Cup Derby, and running third in the $1,000,000 Champion of Champions behind Blues Girl Too.

For the Joiners, training horses is a family affair.His younger brother Justin is now managing his father s stable at Remington Park and at Zia Park in Hobbs, New Mexico."Justin's doing really great," said Cody. "Currently, he's helping dad out with managing some of our horses back home.I think he wants to be a trainer someday too.Right now everything that we run out here in California is under my dad's name, but he gives me a lot of liberty with managing and training the horses myself.I also have two horses that race under my name, including Accost, a gelding that I own myself." Accost was victorious in his only start earlier this season on June 5, 2008.

2008 Notes:

Cody Joiner figures to have another stellar year in 2008, as he will send out the highly-regarded gelding My Buddie in the Governor's Cup Derby trials on July 12th.Perfect through two starts last season, My Buddie broke his maiden by a commanding four and a quarter lengths in his debut and was the fastest qualifier to last year's Governor's Cup Futurity before an injury cut the rest of his season short.Aside from Accost, Cody also conditions quality two-year-olds such as Alice K White, a three-quarter sister to world record holder Kendall Jackson, the impressive maiden victor Register To Win, and Louisiana Senator, an undefeated colt from Remington Park who will be competing in the Golden State Million Futurity trials in his next start.As for the three-year-old division, My Buddie will soon be joined by Jess My Moon, the recent winner of the Bayer Legend Derby at Ruidoso Downs, and Jrs Big N Rich, a finalist in last year's Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.Currently both of those runners are stabled at Ruidoso Downs, but will be shipping to Los Alamitos later in the year.